Automatic electric weighing-scale



(No Model.) y 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

o. P. Woon. AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC WEIGELNG SCALE. No. 500,045. Patented June Z0, 1893.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.,

C. F. WOOD. AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC WEICEINC SCALE. No. 500,045. Patented June 20, 1803.`

C -w NEssEs.' v /NvE/vo I' I BY (Pedal-,m E t,

TTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES I". \VO()D, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC WElGHiNG-SCALE.

lSIEIECII"ICA'ZLIN forming part of Letters Patent No. 500,045, dated June 20, 1893. 'Application tiled August 30. 1892. Serial No. 444,584. (No modeld vautomatic electric weighing scale designed mainly for use in putting up in packages a small quantity of seed, or other` loose mer-L chandise, and to' do this `rapidly and accurately, giving to each package a uniform weight of material.

In seed houses, wholesale drug stores, and

grocery stores, much time and labor are eX-V pended in putting up these small packages of seed, drugs, sample groceries, &c.,and my invention is designed to economize this time and labor, and to this end it consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement of an antomatic weighing scales which not only weighs the requisite amount and insures uniformity, but also deposits it within paper bags in a rapid and automatic manner yas hereinafter fully described.

Figure 1 is a side view partly in section of the entire apparatus. Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view of the feed device, and Figs. 3, 4 and 5-are enlarged detail views of the bag filling devices.

In the drawings, A represents the standard vof the scales to the upper part of which is fulcrumed the balance beam A A2, to one end -A of which is suspended a pan for the weight B, and to the other end A2 of which is snspended a weighing, receptacle C, for the seed or other merchandise to be weighed.

I is a reservoir hopper mounted above the receptacle C and adapted to dischargeinto it, and Il is a transfer funnel adapted to receive the seedfrom the receptacle Gand transfer the charge to a bag.

E is a box or case upon the top of which is fulcrumed the reservoir hopper I. This hopper has at its lower end next to the scales a sliding door N which i's arranged to slide easily in vertical guide ways to close the orlice at the bottom of the hopper. This door N has attached to its upper edge an armature N', arranged to be attracted by the electro magnet J to raise the door and start the discharge A- of seed. VThe magnet J is rigidly connected to rod J. and ucross bar J2, and the rod J is arranged to slide vertically with the magnet in arms O O projecting from the end of the hopper. l

Between the cross bar J'2 and the projecting arm O', there is disposed a spiral spring S wound about the rod J upon which thel weight of the magnet and its attached parts' is sustained in sensitive equilibrium. 0n the lower end of rod J is a flathead i' which forms a contact face for the end Ai of the balance beam to strike against. 'lhis rod J is connected to one of the terminals of the coil of the magnet J, and the other terminal is connected throughwires ai and d to one pole of the battery Z. The other pole of this battery is, through circuit wire b, connected to insulated scale standard A, and balance beam A2 A. Now when a weight B is placed in the balances, the end A2 of the balance beam rises to contact with the point i, and thus establishes an electric circuit through electro magnet J, which attracting armature N lifts the l door N and allows the seed to be discharged into the weighing receptacle.

I will now describe the object of making the magnet J movable. When the seed is running out through the door into the receptacle C, and as soon as theweight of the seed in receptacle C balances the weight I3 the receptacle C begins to descend and breaks electrical contact between beam A2 and face L', but as there is a stream of seed in mid air in the act of falling through the wide open door these seed are dumped into receptacle C after electrical contactis broken and give a greater weight than is indicated by B. rlhe object in making magnet J movable is to correct this ditliculty, and

also secure other advantages.' With the magnet made adjustable as described, when the end AV2 of the beam rises its first eltect is to establish the electric circuit through magnet J as described; but the magnet J being held in delicate equilibrium by its spring S, the further movement of beam A`-, upwardly, lifts through rod J' the magnet J and pulls the door N farther open. Now when the receptacle begins to settle the beam end Ai drops and with it the magnet J, armature N', and door N are gradually lowered and the stream ol falling seed is gradually reduced until only a Jfew seed are in the act of falling at the moment of the break in electrical contact hetween A2 and 1', and such of these few seed as happen to bein the air at this moment do not involve anysubstantial increase in the weight 0f the charge of seed. It' will also be seen thatby making the magnet J movable amuch greater range of movement is obtained in liftingthe door than could be obtained by the limited range of the armature with a stationary magnet. IVithin the box E is arranged an electro magnet F and a long` lever G, having at one end beneath the electro magnet F an armature, and at the other the transfer funnel II, which is rigidly attached to and supported by the same. This lever emerges through an opening in the side of the box and the transfer funnel I-I is sustained just below the outlet door cof the weighingreceptaclc C. This door slides vertically in guides, and has at its upper edge an armature e', arranged to be lifted by an electro magnet D, fixed to the side 0f the receptacle. After the seed are de- `posited in and weighed by the receptacle C they are to be deposited in the Vtransfer funnel Il, and transferred into the bag, a series of which are retained in the bag holder K. On the-receptacle t) is a bent wire (l that is arranged to dip into a mercury column d. This mercury column is connected by wire ai to electro magnet F, and thence to circuit wirc (t. As soon as the receptacle t descends with the load, electrical contact is made between d and d', and il being connected with one poleI of the battery through the scales and wire o, and Il with the other pole of the battery through wirc a2 and a, the magnet F is charged, and attracting the armature of lever lowers or throws down the transfer funnel ll, which. descending, opens themouth of the bag as will be described farther along. As soon as this movement isettected the door e of the receptacle C is opened and its contents transferred through the funnel Il into the bag. To open this door e, I complete an electrical circuit through the magnet D immediately after the circuit is established at (l d through magnet l-`. This second circuit is established by a bent wire c adapted to enter a mercury column c', the wire c being connected through magneti) to the scales and one pole of the battery,and the mercury column c beingconncetcd through wires a o with the oth'er pole of the battery. Immediately after the movement of lever G (from charging magnet F through contacts f7 (7"), there follows the opening of the door by magnet l) through the circuit established at t' c', the circuit bei-ng divided between the two magnets l) and F. In making contact for the two circuits of the electro magnets F and D, I prefer -the mercury columns or cups as shown, since they do not interfere with the `free movement of the weighing receptacle C, but I may employ spring contacts, slides, or any other form of electrical contacts for this purpose.

I will now describe the bag' filling devices,

and their operation in connection with the features already described. K is a bag holder arranged beneath the scales on an incline, and lilled with paper bags arranged vertically and pressed .forwardly by a roller L which has an angular wire frame I that bears against the tops of the bags and holds them against any tendency to fall hack. ported at its rear end upon a roller Z2. At the lower end of the bag holder the row of bags are held against falling out by a lip m just below the transfer funnel. The bags being stiff stand upright at this point with the mouth immediately beneath the end of the funnel II which in descending penetrates the mouth and expands the same preparatory to delivering the charge of seed into the same. The transfer funnel H is made with one side extended below the other and terminating in a sharp point h. (See Figs. 3, 4r, 5.) This point serves to penetrate the. narrow space between the sides of the llattened or collapsed bag to open the mouth before discharging the seed into the same, and insures the delivery of the seed upon one side of this point 7L and into the mouth of the bag. To this side of the funnel near its top is hinged a pendent bent arm g having near its middle an offsetting weighted arm g', and at its lower end an articulated and pointed toe g3. Within the bend of the arm g there is a stationary bar g2 supported by a portion of the frame work, as in Fig. l, and beside it .and under the weight g there is a rest or contact surface g5. The toe g3 of the arm is jointed so as to bend upwardly, but cannot move downwardly, andV just opposite it in the funnel is an opening h into which this toe is adapted to enter in seizing the bag.

The operation ofthe parts j ust described is as follows: Vh'en the transfer funnel II descends its point enters the mouth of the bag, and the weighted arm g strikes the contact face g and draws the arm q and toe g3 away from the funnel, permitting the paper side p (Fig. 4) of the bag to pass between the funnel and the toe g3. Then after the bag has been filled, and the funnel rises, the toe g3 presses the paper into the opening l1, of the funnel and indenting or perforating the same lifts the filled bag over the shoulder m until the arm g strikes the stationary bar g2. This throws the arm and toc outwardly, and, releasing the bag, allows it with its charge of seed to drop upon the chute m whencel it slides to a suitable shelf below, and is then sealed or closed by hand.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the order of automatic action as follows: First the seed are discharged from theh'opper I into the receptacle C and weighed. The receptacle C in descending first establishesthe electric current in magnet F, throwing down transfer funnel Il, and opening the bag, and immediately following, the electric current is established in magnet D emptying the contents of receptacle C into the transfer This frame Z is sup' IZO funnel Il, and thence into the bag. Recepta cle C being thuslightened rises and breaking the contacts at c and d allows door e to close, and transfer hopper Il to rise and lift the iilled bag which is immediately dropped asbefore described, after which the same action just described is repeated.

In delining the relation of the bag holder and the funneljll to the other vfeatures claimed in this case,l would state that I do not make in this case any claim to the special construction of said bag holder and funnel as this has been held to bea separate subject matter. I

therefore reserve the right to cover these fea-y tures in a separate application.

llavingthus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In an electrical weighing scales, the coinbination'with thev reservoir hopper and its door, land its scale beam with its Weighing receptacle, of an electro magnet with battery circuit arranged to lift the door by the con* tact of' the scale beam, said electro magnet being made bodily movable so as to follow the scale beam up and down and lift the door by mechanical as Well as electrical action, sub-v stantially as shown and described.

2. The combination hopper I having door N with armature N; the electro magnet lJ with rod Jand cross ba'i'J2,guiding supports' O O', supporting spring S, and the scale beam with weighing receptacle arranged to lift the velectro magnet and make electrical contact as described. A

3. In an electric weighing scales,I the combination of the pendent weighing receptacle C having door e with armature e and electro magnet D, and an electrical contact and battery circuit, said contact being arranged to be closed by the descent of thereceptacle C to open its discharge door, as described.

4. In an electric weighing scales, the combination with the scale beam; of the hopper with discharge doorNandmagnetJ arranged abo-ve it, the suspended weighing Vreceptacle C with discharge door e and magnet I), the transfer funnel I-l mounted on lever G, the magnet F and the two electrical circuits and their contacts' (l d and c c arranged to operate in'sequence to raise the transfer funnel and discharge .its contents of receptacle C therein, substantially as shown and described. l The combination with the electrical weighin g scales having movable receptacle C,

and a bag holder; of a transfer funnel with supporting lever and operating magnet connected with the weighing scales and'operated by its circuit, and arranged to transfer the contents of the weighing receptacle to the bag, substantiall y as shown and described.v

6. The combination of the liopper with electrically controlled door N, the scale beam with suspended receptacle` C having electrically vcontrolled discharge door, the adjustable transfer funnel Il, two electrical circuits with contacts carried by the receptacle C, one circuit being arranged to adjust the funnel, and -the other to control the discharge door of the Weighing receptacle and bag holding and feeding devices, substantially as shown and described.

CHARLES 'F. WOOD.

lVitnesses: l

SoLoN @.KEMoN, i /EDwn W. BYRN. 

